The National Association for Multicultural Education

About NAME

NAME's Mission:

NAME is a non-profit organization that advances and advocates for equity and social justice through multicultural education.

Objectives:

To provide opportunities for learning in order to advance multicultural education, equity and social justice.

To proactively reframe public debate and impact current and emerging policies in ways that advance social, political, economic and educational equity through advocacy, position papers, policy statements and other strategies.

To provide the preeminent digital clearinghouse of resources about educational equity and social justice.

The Founders of NAME envisioned an organization that would bring together individuals and groups with an interest in multicultural education from all levels of education, different academic disciplines and from diverse educational institutions and occupations.

At the 1990 meeting of the Association of Teacher Educators' (ATE) Multicultural Education Special Interest Group, Rose Duhon-Sells challenged members to create such an organization. The new association, NAME, was launched through a national conference held in conjunction with the 1991 ATE meeting in New Orleans.

NAME today is an active, growing organization, with over 1,500 members from throughout the United States and several other countries. NAME is a registered 501-c.3 non-profit organization. (NAME's Federal Tax ID # is 72-119-3754.) Educators from preschool through higher education and representatives from business and communities comprise NAME's membership. Members in many local communities and states have formed NAME local chapters that serve the same networking, support and outreach functions on the local level, similar to the national network. We are proud to say that more chapters are in the process of forming.

The achievement of NAME's goals and objectives is supported by funds from membership, conference registration fees, and the volunteer work of members. As the organization's membership increased, NAME incorporated as a nonprofit organization, developed a publication on multicultural education, and established a national office. NAME continues to host national and international conferences and to provide leadership in national and state dialogues on equity, diversity and multicultural education.

NAME's membership encompasses the spectrum of professional educators and specialists, including early childhood, classroom and higher education faculty, administrators, psychologists, social workers, counselors, curriculum specialists, librarians, scholars, and researchers. Persons affiliated with teacher education, ethnic studies, ESL and bilingual education, social science, anthropology, liberal and fine arts programs, and other departments, colleges, and schools with an emphasis on multiculturalism are also encouraged to become members.

Why We Use the Red Triangle & a Bird in the NAME Logo
During the Nazi Holocaust, people forced into ghettos and concentration camps were required to wear badges to indicate the reason, or reasons, for their persecution. Most people are aware that Jews were forces to wear yellow stars and gay people were forces to wear pink triangles. But there was a long list of symbols of oppression and hate, including one for Catholics, Polish and Roma people.
The red triangle was required of “Wrong Thinkers,” political or religious dissidents who dared to speak out against the ruling regime, and who didn't neatly fit into any other category of persecution.
NAME uses this symbol to reaffirm our commitment to be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, to be advocates and to be allies to all who work for social justice and equity.
The Sankofa bird in NAME’s logo is borrowed from the West African Akan people of Ghana. The symbol describes learning from the past in order to effectively build for the future. Literally, it means “go back and fetch it.”
We support the wisdom that we must not forget our past when moving ahead. Sankofa is the realization of Self and Spirit. It represents the concepts of self-identity, redefinition and vision. It symbolizes an understanding that one’s destiny and collective identity of the larger cultural group.NAME is a registered 501-c.3 non-profit organization. NAME's Federal Tax ID # is 72-119-3754

The National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and services. NAME is consciously and proactively inclusive of all areas of diversity including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sovereign tribal Nations status, ancestry, gender identity and expression, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, social class, socioeconomic status, marital status, language, disability, or immigration status. ?

Events

What's In a NAME?

Welcome to the website of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME).

Founded in 1990, NAME has become the premier national and international organization that is committed to issues of equity, inclusion, diversity, and justice in schooling.

On our website, you will find information about the organization, resources available to assist you in your efforts to diversify education, and opportunities to learn more about all aspects of education that is multicultural. We know you will find these helpful!

We are an organization that relies on the strength and efforts of members of the organization who volunteer their time and talents to assure all people have access to an education that is multicultural. Thus you will also find information on this website about how to get involved in supporting the organization as we pursue equity and social justice in education.

Welcome to the NAME website. As important, we extend our warmest welcome to join in the efforts of the National Association for Multicultural Education.